‘Barber’ is a cut above the rest

l CAIRNS CBD

| Gail Sedorkin

WITH an Australian twist and a hipster hero – Opera Australia’s production of The Barber of Seville is coming to Cairns.

In this production, awardwinning director Priscilla Jackman has updated the famous barber Figaro with a hipster moustache and a barber shop to match, while leading lady Rosina takes fate into her own hands to win in the game of true love.

The story has been set in the real-life Victorian town of Seville, and the nearby Yarra Valley wine region for this contemporary Australian spin on one of the world’s most loved operas.

Taking opera out of the major cities and into regional areas remains an imperative part of the company’s annual program, Opera Australia’s chief executive officer Fiona Allan said.

“Priscilla Jackman has created a playful new production of The Barber of Seville and the cast features some of our most experienced performers as well as some exciting up and coming stars,” she said.

“Opera Australia remains dedicated to bringing worldclass performances to audiences across the nation, aiming to increase access to live performance and to inspire new generations to take the stage through the ongoing Regional Children’s Chorus program.”

The cast comprises some of Opera Australia’s finest singers and musicians. Sopranos Esther Song and Cathy-Di Zhang will reprise their shared role of Rosina, tenor Shanul Sharma, who recently wowed audiences in his 5-star depiction of Gandhi in Philip Glass’ Satyagraha at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, will share the role of Count Almaviva with John Longmuir and baritones Christian Haotian Qi and Andrew Williams will share the role of the famous barber, Figaro.

Opera Australia engages in a variety of workshops and programs with local communities at each place the tour visits, which is an important step in introducing new audiences to the world of opera.

The Regional Children’s Chorus program, under the direction of children’s chorus master Jonathon Bam, sees local students join the professional cast in rehearsal and in performance, for what is for many, their first taste of live performance in front of an audience.

This year marks Opera Australia’s 27th annual national tour with Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville – a 14,000 km journey across the country.

Over the years it has presented many of the country’s finest singers and musicians to more than 317,500 people in 119 locations across metropolitan and regional Australia.

The two-month tour will visit 15 metropolitan and regional theatres including the Cairns Performing Arts Centre on August 5.

Tickets on sale through Ticketlink –Ticketlink.com.au or 1300 855 835.